Pollen is fallin’
Mar. 27 — If you’re wondering what’s with all the traffic after work on Friday, it’s due to the Atlanta Braves’ season opener at Truist Park. If you’re going out for the evening, you may want to stick around Sandy Springs — unless you’re like me and are heading to the ballpark looking forward to that first hot dog and beer of the season, hoping the Bravos’ preseason injuries don’t impact the team in the long term. Rough Draft’s Cathy Cobbs and Sarra Sedghi attended the Atlanta Braves media day this week and have a report on what fans can expect this year.
🤧 Temperatures will cool to around 70 degrees with sunny skies this weekend. But pollen counts should still be off the charts, with blooming trees driving your sneezing and runny noses.
🪧 Dozens of No Kings Protests are scheduled to take place around Atlanta on Saturday, March 28, including one for Sandy Springs and Peachtree Corners.
♻️ Sandy Springs is launching the 2026 Sandy Springs Eco-Stewardship program, a hands-on environmental initiative to engage community members in restoring and protecting local ecosystems through volunteer fieldwork.
📰 We hope you are enjoying Rough Draft Sandy Springs and have checked out some of our other free newsletters. Publisher Keith Pepper talks about the importance of local news in the latest Rough Draft in print.
Thanks for reading,
Hayden and the Rough Draft team.
🏥 Join Move For Grady on April 25! Three intown biking distances and two run/walk options means there’s something for everyone. Come to move, stay for the party – plenty of food and drinks to celebrate at GSU’s Center Parc Stadium. SPONSOR MESSAGE
Sandy Springs leaders share city priorities at High Point Civic Association
📋 The High Point Civic Association held its first annual meeting since its former president, Mary Ford (pictured), was elected to the District 5 seat on the Sandy Springs City Council last year.
Matt Payne, newly elected president of the civic association, invited local public school principals, Sandy Springs officials, Mayor Rusty Paul, Fulton County Chair Robb Pitts, and a host of candidates running in the May 19 primary.
Updates they shared included the status of constructions projects, PATH400, and sewer repairs.
✅ Read Hayden’s full report on the meeting.
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Community Assistance Center expands to meet increased need
🫶🏼 While the number of neighbors in need continues to grow across Dunwoody and Sandy Springs, the Community Assistance Center is expanding its community impact to fill gaps.
The CAC released its 2025 Annual Report on March 24, highlighting the nonprofit’s crisis intervention work, its new adult education and career services hub, and the $18 million Compassion in Action fundraising campaign.
CEO Francis K. Horton said 2025 was a year of growth for the CAC, which included opening its new Empowerment Center. (pictured) Horton said the expansions were largely in response to the rising need in the community. The nonprofit increased its community donors by 25% and more than doubled its contributions.
“Increasing economic pressure is impacting our lower-income families, but also an increasing number of middle-income earners,” Horton said. “The needs are creeping into more and more of our community, and we have to scale to meet them.”
👉🏼 Read how the CAC is growing.
Residents invited to weigh in on Sandy Springs transportation projects
🚘 Sandy Springs is hosting four T-SPLOST public open houses in April so residents can share their thoughts on proposed transportation projects tied to the November referendum.
T-SPLOST, the transportation special purpose local sales tax, is a three-quarter of a cent levy that is used to build bridges, alleviate congestion, fund safety projects, pedestrian and bike improvements, and roadway projects.
If a majority of Fulton County voters approve the T-SPLOST renewal, it would keep the existing 0.75% sales tax in place to continue funding transportation-related projects.
📍 Read where and when the open houses will take place.
Adaptive kayaking program offers adventure on the water for all
🚣🏽♂️ Sandy Springs is offering adaptive kayaking at Morgan Falls Overlook Park, designed to provide individuals with physical disabilities the opportunity to experience adventure on the water.
The inclusive program ensures that each paddler has a supportive environment to enjoy the sights and sounds of nature, with a focus on safety, accessibility, and individualized support.
“Our goal is to remove barriers and create opportunities for everyone to experience the freedom of being on the water,” Recreation and Parks Program Coordinator Jane Jarrett said. “Through our partnership with Catalyst Sports, we are able to provide expert instruction, adaptive equipment, and a welcoming community for paddlers of all abilities.”
💦 Read more about the adaptive kayaking program.
What’s it Worth?
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What’s doin’ around Sandy Springs
🎤 March 27:Karaoke Night at Battle & Brew
🪴 March 28:Container gardening at Lost Corner Preserve
🍾 March 30:Pilates and Prosecco at City Springs
☕️ March 31:Coffee & Contacts at Just Love Coffee Cafe
🎶 March 31:Billy Ocean at City Springs
🧶 April 1: Sandy Springs Crafting Buddies at Barfield Room (multiple dates)
🗓️ Check out the full list of events.
The Sports Section
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SCORE ATLANTA
⚾️ BOYS BASEBALL
- Holy Innocents’ (11-6): Saturday vs. North Springs (7-15); Monday vs. Hapeville Charter (8-2)
- Lovett (12-6): Monday vs. Therrell (12-3)
- Mt. Vernon (8-6): Saturday @ Mount Bethel Christian (8-11); Monday vs. Galloway (1-8)
- North Springs (7-15): Saturday @ Holy Innocents’ (11-6)
- Pace Academy (10-8): Friday vs. M.L. King (12-6); Saturday @ Jackson (14-9); Monday @ M.L. King (12-6)
- Riverwood (9-12): Friday @ Pope (18-2) (Doubleheader); Tuesday vs. Lassiter (8-11)
- Westminster (5-11): Friday @ Centennial (9-9); Tuesday @ Kell (13-8)
🥍 BOYS LACROSSE
- Holy Innocents’ (3-5): Saturday @ Cherokee (3-7); Monday @ Whitewater (11-2)
- Lovett (9-1): Friday @ St. Pius X (4-6); Tuesday @ Pace Academy (6-4)
- Mt. Vernon (8-1): April 2 @ Whitefield Academy (4-7)
- Pace Academy (6-4): Friday vs. Johns Creek (6-5); Tuesday vs. Lovett (9-1)
- Riverwood (8-6): Tuesday @ Lakeside-DeKalb (2-6)
- Westminster (1-5): Saturday vs. Starr’s Mill (12-1); Tuesday vs. Mount Paran Christian (4-5)
🥍 GIRLS LACROSSE
- Holy Innocents’ (4-4): Friday vs. Riverwood (7-4); Tuesday vs. Oconee County (7-2)
- Lovett (8-4): Tuesday vs. Marist (3-4)
- North Springs (4-7): Tuesday @ Campbell (5-5)
- Pace Academy (7-4): Friday vs. Marietta (9-1)
- Riverwood (7-4): Friday @ Holy Innocents’ (4-4); Monday @ North Atlanta (4-6); Tuesday @ Midtown (6-4)
- Westminster (3-6): April 2 @ Lovett (8-4)
⚽️ BOYS SOCCER
- Holy Innocents’ (7-3): Tuesday vs. Jackson (4-6)
- Lovett (8-3): Tuesday vs. Whitefield Academy (10-1-1)
- Mt. Vernon (5-2): Friday @ TBD (Smokey Mountain Cup); Saturday @ TBD (Smokey Mountain Cup); Tuesday @ Fellowship Christian (4-6)
- North Springs (6-6): Friday vs. St. Pius X (10-4); Tuesday @ Northview (5-9)
- Pace Academy (7-4): Friday vs. Drew (13-1); Monday @ M.L. King (5-5)
- Riverwood (7-5): Friday @ Sequoyah (6-6); Tuesday vs. Woodstock (2-7)
- Westminster (3-6): Friday vs. Farragut, TN. (5-0)
⚽️ GIRLS SOCCER
- Holy Innocents’ (9-1): Monday @ Riverwood (11-0); Tuesday vs. Jackson (6-4)
- Lovett (7-2): Tuesday vs. Whitefield Academy (6-4)
- Mt. Vernon (2-4-2): Tuesday vs. Fellowship Christian (4-5)
- North Springs (7-3): Friday vs. St. Pius X (8-6); Tuesday @ Northview (4-9)
- Pace Academy (6-5): Friday vs. Drew (9-6); Monday @ M.L. King (0-6)
- Riverwood (11-0): Friday vs. Sequoyah (8-4); Monday vs. Holy Innocents’ (9-1); Tuesday vs. Woodstock (3-7)
- Westminster (9-2): April 1 vs. Blessed Trinity (9-2)
School records do not reflect March 26 matches.